Social Education 74(4), pp 226–231 ©2010 National Council for the Social Studies Elementary Education Using Social Studies Themes to Investigate Modern Egypt Janie Hubbard any elementary teachers explore the marvels of ancient Egypt with their religions that, like in ancient times, students, as evidenced by the numerous available websites on this topic for greatly impact the overall culture. Mteaching elementary history. The drama and mystery of ancient civilizations Islamic armies from Arabia invaded with treasures such as mummies, King Tut, and the Giza Pyramids are intriguing Egypt in 640. The following year, to children, yet there is another layer of fascinating topics awaiting investigation in Cairo was conquered, and in 647, the today’s Egypt. city of Alexandria surrendered, bring- ing Muslim rule to the whole country. After teaching in Egypt for several helps students begin to understand that Consequently, today indigenous cul- years, my reflections suggest addi- humans often create changes to accom- tural groups speak Arabic and most tional appropriate topics, for elemen- modate different ideas and beliefs. Both people are intensely devout Muslims. tary students, that reveal the essence friendly and hostile interactions with The Coptic Christians, a once prolif- of modern Egypt by focusing on three others may influence such cultural ele- erate religious group, founded around themes— CULTURE; PEOPLE, PLACES, ments as religion, politics, food, lan- 42 A.D., now only represent about 13 AND ENVIRONMENTS; AND PRODUCTION, guage, and societal norms. percent of the population. The modern DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTION—from Though remains of human develop- official language, Arabic, has replaced the National Council for the Social ment, found near Abu Simbel, date back the ancient Coptic language that was Studies (NCSS) Curriculum Standards to 700,000 B.C., the Early Dynastic used as early as the fourth century by for Social Studies. Period (a 500-year period) is commonly the Coptic Church of Egypt. considered the beginning of Ancient Bedouins, a nomadic, tribal people Theme 1: Culture Egyptian history and the formative who wandered the central Sinai desert Teachers can help students recognize stage of its culture.2 Traits in Ancient with sheep, goats, and camels for cen- how too much attention to exotica might Egyptian culture include the Divine turies, still exist. It is difficult for the interfere with cultural understandings. kingship form of government, a poly- government to calculate the number Substantive culture teaching aims for a theistic religion hosting about 700 dif- of Bedouins in Egypt because of their balance between teaching cultural differ- ferent gods and goddesses, and writing wandering nature, however, govern- ences and commonalities.1 Researching that evolved from a few simple hiero- ment policies such as schooling and and comparing today’s diverse Egyptian glyphic signs to several hundred that law enforcement, oil production, and cultures can aid young students in iden- include both phonetic and ideographic a desire for improved standards of liv- tifying common universal characteris- values. The famed Rosetta Stone helped ing have influenced many Bedouins tics among cultures. Egypt, like other scholars learn that early Egyptian lan- to become settled citizens.4 Bedouins nations, has regional differences associ- guage consisted of a combination of live in and around el Arish, a wadi ated with historical traditions and geog- Egyptian hieroglyphics, Greek, and a (valley) and town built around an raphy. When teaching Egyptian culture Coptic Christian language.3 original Bedouin camp. Traditionally, and how it has changed, it is also natural Today, Egypt’s diverse cultural Bedouin brides in Egypt wore black to refer to similarities with the evolving groups maintain distinctively differ- dresses adorned with brightly colored culture of the United States. Doing so ent customs, social arrangements, and embroidery or cross-stitch and veils Social Education 226 caftan-like outer garments, and niqabs, veils concealing all of the face except the eyes, as signs of modesty. Hijab, a word that means to veil or cover, refers to a woman’s commitment to dress and behave modestly. With this trend, design- ers and manufacturers have discovered a growing market for fashionable Islamic women’s clothing. These days, Egyptian entertain- ment and art can be traced to origins from Islamic traditions. For example, a Whirling Dervish is a religious movement that has transcended to a performing art. The Sufi, a mystic order of Islam, has per- formed this “dance” for about 700 years. “The performer ‘turns’ or whirls endlessly while manipulating skirts in a colorful The three pyramids seen through a palm grove, Cairo, Egypt. Matson Photo Service, 1936 display…”5; the ceremony represents a (Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-DIG-matpc-00273). spiritual journey towards love and truth. Sharing this website with a video example covered with dowry coins. Today, the historical sites and monuments. Nubian of an Egyptian Whirling Dervish dancer, women, many who are artisans, create people reluctantly settled in and around www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj4xI6jYom4, is colorful, exquisitely embroidered dresses, Aswan and villages to its north. Under a way to introduce a continuance of an shawls, pillow covers, and scarves to sell United Nations Educational, Scientific, Islamic tradition in action. each Thursday to tourists in the mar- and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) The Hajj paintings are another form of ketplace. auspices, the Nubian temples at Abu- folk art inspired by Islam. The pilgrim- The Nubians are the people of north- Simbel were moved and reconstructed age to Mecca in Saudi Arabia is consid- ern Sudan and southern Egypt. Their (1963–68) to a cliff above the old site. ered the most important experience of a homeland is that of Africa’s earliest As a gift for its financial assistance in this Muslim’s life, for both the rich and poor. black culture with a history traced project, Egypt gave a nearby temple built Especially in Upper Egypt, professional from 3,800 B.C. In antiquity, Nubia by the Romans, the Temple of Dendur, as well as untrained painters record these was a land of great natural resources, to the United States in 1965. This temple journeys on the outside walls of homes. gold mines, ebony, ivory, and incense, is now displayed in the Metropolitan The mode of travel to Mecca, the pil- but later the economy became primarily Museum of Art in New York City. grim’s experiences after arriving, and one of agriculture. Date exporting was Climate, wind, and religion all influ- symbols of the welcome-home celebra- the most important source of income in ence clothing customs. Because of the tion of a Hajj, along with pictures of com- the early 1900s, before the construction extreme heat, both women and men wear mon farm life, are proudly displayed on of the first Aswan Dam. The height of galabeyas, long, loose fitting dress-like a pilgrim’s home for all to see. Moinard this dam, raised three times in 75 years, garments, when at home or not working. interviews a modern day Hajj painter caused changes that reduced cultivation Cotton scarves, wound around heads and and describes his technique, to four months out of the year. At that faces, shield men against glaring sun or time, vegetables, cultivated in small sweeping desert winds that constantly Like other artists, Badr has a basic amounts, became the main source of carry dust and sand even into the cit- overall design for each of his murals: income. Therefore, many of the men gave ies. Although modern Egyptians usu- He includes a rectangle above the up farming and traveled long distances ally dress much as Westerners for the front door in which are placed the to work, returning home only a couple of workplace, the teachings of the Qur’an name of the pilgrim and the date times per year. By the 1960s, Nubians lost strongly encourage Muslim women to that the hajj took place; adjoining the last of their ancient homeland when cover their hair with scarves, and a this, he paints the Ka’bah [sanctu- Egypt built the Aswan High Dam that Muslim woman’s arms are never publicly ary at Mecca and object of the pil- formed Lake Nasser. The area flooded bare. Because of current interpretations grimage] and the Prophet’s Mosque, and washed away many of the Nubians’ of the Qur’an, many women wear abayas, with an airplane to one side, then September 2010 227 A couple stands on a bridge on the Nile during Valentine’s day in Cairo, February, 14, 2010. Reuters/Asmaa Waguih appropriate Qur’anic verses to seasonal fruits and vegetables, grown Environments helps students focus on enhance the final effect.6(¶ 27). along the Nile River, are common. The making informed and critical deci- cost of food greatly affects everyday life, sions about the relationships between Examples of real life photos depict- thus many staple meals are made with human beings and their environment.7 ing Hajj paintings, published by the nutritious beans and inexpensive, yet In Ancient Egypt, physical geography American University in Cairo Press, are filling, carbohydrates. Two daily staples significantly influenced human practices, presented in the book Hajj Paintings: of the Egyptian diet are bread and beans. and it continues today. Folk Art of the Great Pilgrimage, by Eeish (life) Baladi bread is round, coated Throughout Egyptian history, two Ann Parker and Avon Neal. As part with bran, and used to dip and scoop up of the most important landforms for of studying Egyptian culture, students various foods. Ful consists of brown fava human movement have been the Nile might create similar type murals in their beans, slowly cooked and served with River and the Sinai Peninsula. Their classrooms, perhaps basing individual olive oil; this is popular for breakfast but functions, though, have evolved as the pictures on travels they have made.